Printing machine



,7 1947. w. T. GOLLWI'ILZER 2,425,149 I PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed 00f. 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet l 17321673307 Z aZZer- I? mllwo'izer Aug. 5, 1947. w. T. GOLLWlT-ZER PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q WRQM QQNN ww g Waiiar Z' GMZMZMZQ" W MW W. T. GOLLWITZER PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 LP I 5.5

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1 1?" .1, my M FRANK ROE. 75 15 00 52 723 POLK ST, CHICAGO ILL.

ROBE??? woes, 700 14000 13 (519 GRACE s2, 7 mm ARBOR MICE EDWIN BRIGHT. a mo 74 125 E.84-TH 51:, new YORK, NY.

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MISS 'rzsssm ALPERS, 24 480 a2 1236 GREEN 51"., f LAKEWOOD, 01-110. A!

uoun T. HARRINGTON, 14 as 93 4oz ELEVENTH s11, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. 1/2 1/1 LT 2 89764 5795280 J jnveniar PZ'QZZer I 605512065267.

' -5 1947- w. 1". GOLLWITZER 2,425,149

' PRINTINQ MACHINE ori inal Filed Oct. 35. 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s I I I I I I l I I wwwgs 1947. w. T. GOLLWITZER 2,425,149

PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed 061;. 25, 194i 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Aug. 5, 1947 v fiyf 571 PRINTING MACHINE Walter T. Gollwitzer, Euclid, hio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application October 25, 1941, Serial No.

Divided "and this application December 13, 1943, Serial No. 514,067

9 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 416,548, filed October 5, 1941, which was, in turn, a continuation in part of my then copending application Serial No. 221,- 841, filed July 28, 1938, now issued as Patent No. 2,296,277, patented September 22, 1942.

This invention relates generally to printing and like machines through which printing, printing and control or like devices are sequentially fed to have printing operations performed therefrom, and more particularly this invention relates to the platen mechanism of such machines whereby into printing cooperation with a sheet or business form.

In a printing device of any of the various types hereinabove referred to, the body of the printing device may embody control means representing variable control data related to the indentificathe desired printing impressions are made from the printing means of such devices or from other printing means so as to produce business instruments or the like.

In the use of printing machines of this character the printing impressions which are to be made usually pertain to identification data such as names, addresses and like information, and the printing impressions are made upon webs, sheets, business instruments and the like directly from the printing means of such printing, printing and control or like devices which are passed through the machine. The printing devices from which the printing impressions are made may take many different forms, but in most instances each printing device embodies a plurality of lines of printing characters, such as embossed type, from which printing impressions may be made upon a sheet, business form or the like. While a wide variety of printing devices may be employed in machines of the general character to which this invention pertains, the printing device disclosed in Mohler Patent No. 1,812,894, patented July 7, 1931, is typical of one form of printing device which may be employed. Another generally similar form of printing device adapted for use in connection with the platen mechanism of the present invention is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,132,412, patented October 11, 1938. A printing device of this character includes a rectangular carrier or frame having an embossable metal printing plate removably retained in position thereon, type characters being embossed on such a plate to appear in relief on the operative face thereof. Printing devices of a one-piece character may also be employed, such a printing device being shown in Duncan Patent No. 1,026,246, patented May 14, 1912, and in such one-piece printing devices the embossed type characters are formed in the single sheet of metal which forms the printing device. Insofar as some aspects of the present invention are concerned, the printing devices may be of the kind wherein type or printing characters are formed on suitable stencil paper, carried by a frame of cardboard or other material, and in such an instance th'e type characters are inked prior to the time when they are brought tion data represented by the printing characters carried on each such device, and this control data may be utilized for various control purposes in producing the complete business instrument pertaining to each such device.

When the printing devices of the aforesaid character are passed through a printing machine or the like, the printing impressions are made directly from the type characters carried by the printing devices. These printing impressions usually pertain to identifications such as names, addresses, numbers, and the like, and such printing impressions are usually made through the use of impression or platen means which operate to effect printing cooperation of the sheet with the desired type characters of the printing devices or with supplemental type characters or printingmeans which may be mounted in the machine so as to cooperate with the printing devices to: produce the desired business instruments-or the like.

In the production of business instruments in the manner above outlined, the printing devices are passed through the printing machine in relatively large and continuous groups, and selecting mechanism in the machine is usuallyoperable to, determine whether or not business instruments are to, be prepared with respect to the individual printing devices. Thus, in those instances where a business instrument is not to beprepared with respect to a particular printing device, the operation of the various mechanisms of the machine must be altered, and particularly, such operation of the platen must be varied so as to cause skipping of the particular printing device while at the same time assuring that proper impressions are made with respect to printing devices which may precede or follow the printing device which is thus skipped. In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the present invention to enable platen mechanism to be constructed and arranged in anew and improved manner such that the selective operations of the various operative platen faces of such platen mechanism may be facilitated and readily controlled. A'further and related object of the invention is to enable a single actuating means to operate plate mechanism embodying a plurality of operative platen faces, and to enable at least certain of such platen faces to be rendered effective or ineffective in a simple and expeditious manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a printing machine embodyin the features of the invention;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing a typical business instrument or check produced in the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a typical printing and control device from and under control of which operations are performed in the course of operation of the machine;

Fig. 4A is an illustration of the code under which data representing perforations may be produced in the printing and control devices;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are elevational views of proof sheets produced in the machine;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the machine taken in section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view taken from the line 9-9 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the proof printing platen mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line ID-l in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view taken from the line HH of Fig. 2 and showing the main platen mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line |2l2 in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line I3-I3 in Fig. 12.

The platen mechanism of the present invention is illustrated herein in an embodiment which has a wide variety of different uses, and for purposes of disclosure this form of the invention has been herein shown as embodied in a machine for producing complete business instruments, records and the like. Thus the platen mechanism of the present invention is illustrated as embodied in the machine which is fully illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 416,749, filed October 27, 1941. Reference may, of course, be had to my said copending application for details of structure and operation, and the present disclosure is accordingly confined to those elements of the machine which are most directly related to the present platen mechanism. This machine, which is depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is particularly adapted for the production of business instruments such, for example, as dividend checks S, Fig. 3, which include a main body Sm and a stub Sb joined together along a weakened portion SL to facilitate separation thereof.

As can best be ascertained by reference to Fig. 3, the check bears constantly reoccurring data C including, for example, the name and location of the company issuing the check, the words Number and Shares and kindred data as well as the border appearing on the check. The check also bears changing data A constituting an identification and characterizing the check and in the present instance this is an address comprising a name, street and number, and

city and state. Variable data VI are also printed on the check and constitute, in this instance, the amount for which the check is to be payable, as well as variable data V2 which, in this instance, is the number of shares of stock owned by the person to whom the check is payable, both these data, in some instances hereinafter, being referred to .as the variable data V. The check also bears other data such as the date E on which it was issued, a number N and a signature B.

The various data which appear on the check are, in the present instance, either printed on the check prior to the time it is introduced into the machine or such data may be printed on the check in the course of passage thereof through the machine, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. It is to be understood, however, that while in the present instance each check as S is out to size and, for example, has the constantly reoccurring data C printed thereon prior to the time each such blank check, along with other similar blank checks, is introduced into the machine, each such blank check might be cut from a web and, for example, the reoccurring data C, as well as other data, might be printed thereon prior to the time the blank check is severed from the web and deposited on conveying means operative to carry the check through the machine to have other data printed thereon, and this could be done, for example, by resorting to an arrangement such as that described .and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,041,183, patented May 19, 1936.

In the present instance the address or changing data A are printed on the check directly from type characters as T, Fig. 4, on a printing and control device as D and the variable data V are printed under control of such a printing and control or like device. It is preferred to employ a printing and control device as D in the present machine for so to do eliminates the necessity of checking printing devices or the like bearing, for example, type characters as T against separate record cards or the like, under control of which the variable data as V could be printed, for the printing and control devices as D, including both type characters as T and means under control of which variable data as V may be printed, insure that, in the course of operation of the present machine, the changing data as A printed from type characters T and the variable data as V will be printed on a particular check as S so as to thereby insure that related data A and V appear on a single check, it being understood that the type characters T and the means under control of which the variable data V are printed and which are related one to the other are embodied in a single printing and control device as D.

It is to be understood, however, that while reference is made herein to printing and control devices and that while such a device is illustrated and particularly described herein, there are many devices which are applicable for use in the present machine .or for use with the platen mechanism of this invention for it will be clear that the present machine might be arranged to utilize devices which constitute either only a printing means or only a control means and that therefore, in so far as certain mechanisms in the present machine are concerned, for example, the platen means operative to produce printed impressions from the printing and control devices D, the term printing and control device is used herein in a generic rather than in a limiting and strictly definitive sense.

The printing and control devices D used in the present machine are stored in a drawer or the like of conventional form when not in use and when these devices are to be passed through the machine, they are introduced into the magazine H, Figs. 1 and 2, provided at the rear of the machine. Means are provided for withdrawing the printing devices D one by one from the magazine H and these means are operative to advance these devices through the machine in a step-bystep manner so that the printing and control devices successively come to rest in positions or stations whereat printing, sensing or other operations may be performed thereon or under control thereof, and after the devices have been advanced through such stations in the machine they pass through a discharge chute adapted to receive these devices.

The present machine is equipped with an arrangement whereby the printing and control devices, after passage thereof into the aforesaid discharge chute, are returned to the drawer or the like from which they were removed when they were introduced into the magazine H. To this end suitable means are provided in the machine for the reception of two drawers as shown in my copending application Serial No. 416,749, filed October 27, 1941. Arrangements, for example, to which resort may be had for so supporting drawers in the machine, and for insuring the return of the printing and control devices to the drawer or the like from which they were removed when introduced into the magazine H, are those which are disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 403,272, filed July 21, 1941.

Printing and control device A typical printing and control device which may be utilized in the present machine is illustrated in Fig. 4 and is of the character constituting the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 2,132,412, patented October 11, 1938. It is to be understood, however, that this device is typical of other devices which may be utilized in the machine for while the aforesaid printing and control device embodies a metal plate on which the aforesaid type characters T are embossed and includes a card which overlies a portion of the carrier or frame of the printing and control device, so that data representations may be afforded by perforations in such card and frame, resort could be had to a cardboard or other carrier in which data representing perforations, embossures or the like might be formed, and such a frame might embody, for example, a stencil paper in which type characters fromwhich impressions might be made might be cut.

The typical present printing and control device illustrated in Fig. 4 includes a frame '15 having, in thi instance, a metallic plate 76 removably retained thereon by fixed retaining devices 11, a bed 78 at the lower end edge of the frame 75 and yieldable or depressible retaining tongues 19.

When one or the other of the tongues 19 is depressed, the plate 75 may be slid endwise from the retaining devices TE and the bead 18 to thereby enable one such plate as 16 to be replaced by another such plate when the need so to do arises as, for example, upon a change in the post oifice address of the person 'or the like whose name may be printed from'type characters as T included on the plate 16. In the present instance the type characters T are embossed on the metallic plate Hi to appear in relief on one face thereof and in intaglio on the opposite face,

impressions being made from the relief faces of the type characters T when the printing and control device D is fed into printing relation with the platens included in the machine that are described hereinafter.

The printing and control device D shown in Fig. 4 also bears a card on which an impression is made from at least selected of the type characters T so that the data which may be printed from the type characters T may be readily ascertained whereby handling of the device D for filing and like purposes is facilitated. The card 80 is removably retained on the frame 15 above the plate 16 by suitable retaining devices 8| and the bead 82 along the top edge of the frame.

In the present instance the card 80 is of a length substantially equal to the length of the printing plate 16 and therefore extends over an area of the frame whereat coded data representing perforations may be formed, and to this end the printing and control device D, as viewed in Fig. 4, has the impression 83, made from at least selected of the type characters T on this card confined to the left-hand portion of this card so that the right-hand end of this card affords an area whereat the coded data representing perforations 85 may be formed, and for the purposes of this description the aforesaid card 80 will hereinafter .be referred to as a control card.

While the coded perforations 85, or other data representations, as embossures or the like, may be produced on the frame 15 or the card 80 and this frame in accordance with any desired code so as to be representative of numerical or other data, I prefer to produce these perforations in accordance with the code illustrated in Fig. 4A for so to do enables me to utilize a multiplying mechanism in the machine, such as is described hereinafter and in full detail in my United States Letters Patent Nos. 2,296,276 and 2,296,277, patented September 22, 1942.

Sheet feeding and form printing In the present instance impressions are made from type characters as T on the printing and control device as D onto the check as S by a, main platen MP, and similar impressions are made onto the web W by what will be referred to hereinafter as the proof printing platen PP. As can best be ascertained by reference to Fig. 1, the platens MP and PP are aligned one with the other along the guideway G, Fig. 2, through which the printing and control devices are advanced from the magazine H to the discharge chute 23l, Fig. 8, from which they are discharged one by one into the appropriate collecting drawer.

As explained hereinabove, the checks or sheets as S, in the present instance, are cut to ,size and have certain data printed thereon prior to the time they are introduced into the machine to be fed therethrough and in the illustrated machine the sheets are mounted on the sheet-supporting platform 86, Fig. 1, of the sheet feeder SR which operates to withdraw the most inwardly disposed of such sheets from the stack thereof disposed on the platform 86 and thereafter to pass such sheet into the machine. While resort may be had to various types of sheet-withdrawing means, that disclosed in my copending United States application Serial No. 416,636, filed October 27, 1941, is typical of the means to which resort may be had for the purpose of withdrawing the sheets or checks one at a time from the supply thereof introduced into the machine as by being dis-'- posed on the platform 86.

Moreover, resort may be had to an arrangement such as that shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,288,350, patented June 30, 1942, and in such circumstances the sheet receiver SR is supplanted by a web supporting, feeding and severing means such as described in my last referred to United States Letters Patent which functions to sever sheets from the web and to deposit the sheets on the sheet conveying means, generally indicated by 81, Fig. .1, which may be, for example, of the character shown :and described in United States Letters Patent .No. 2,211,772, patented August 20, 1940, the sheet a'dvancing means 81 being operative to feed the sheets or checks S along a sheet guideway SG which is afforded across the table top TT of the machine.

The sheet conveying means 81 is not only operative to advance the sheets or checks as S through the machine but also functions to bring the sheets to rest in the sheet guideway SG in operative association with the platen MP and a printing and control device disposed in printing relation therewith to thereby have impressions made on the sheets as S at selected positions thereon, the variable data as V also being printed on the checks as S when they are disposed in operative relation with the platen MIP as aforesaid.

After, for example, changeable data as A and variable data as V have been printed on the checks as S during the time they are disposed in operative association with the platens MP and MP2, the sheet conveying means 81 functions to advance the sheets to the printing couple PC, Fig. 1, which may be, for example, of the character disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,955,814, patened April 24, 1934, or in Letters Patent No. 2,165,535, patented July 11, 1939. However, in the illustrated machine, I employ a well-known printing unit embodying a printing roller and a platen roller and so arranged that either separate type or an electroplate may be mounted on the printing roller, and reference may be had to, for example, Letters Patent Nos. 816,311, 970,411, 990,207, 1,031,311, 1,094,065, 1,148,940 and 1,647,- 560 for a full disclosure of a printing couple or unit suitable for the purposes of the present invention.

Upon passage of the sheets from the printing couple PC, the sheets are discharged to a suitable sheet collector as SC to be stacked one upon the other in the usual manner shown, for example, in Fig. 1.

When the printing and control devices advance into operative association with the platen PP, impressions are made therefrom, as stated above, on the -web W which is advanced into printing relation with the printing platen PP and a printing and control device disposed in printing relation therewith to have impressions made therefrom, for example, of changeable data A and variable data V, and after passage of those portions of the web W which receive such impressions, the web W is divided into pages. Hence, the means operative to feed the web W to and from operative relation with the platen PP constitute what is known as a pager and proofer mechanism. In the present instance I have shown a pager and proofer mechanism PM, Fig. 1, generally of the character shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 320,778,

filed February 26, 1940, but it is to be understood that resort might be had to other equivalent arrangements for feeding the web into printing relationship with the platen PP and for thereafter dividing the web into what are called proof pages.

In the operation of the machine the printing or printing and control devices D are in this instance fed one by one from the magazine H along a printing device guideway G so as to come to rest successively at a plurality of different positions or stations of which two stations constitute printing positions. The printing device guideway G is formed by means including spaced supporting and guiding rails HM and I102 which extend in the present instance from front to rear of the machine and are carried by a machine frame designated generally as I103. In such advancing movement along the guideway G each printing device comes to rest successively at a sensing station II, Fig. 2, a first printing station III, an intermediate station IV and a second printing station V, after which the printing device is discharged downwardly into the chute 23| of the collecting means.

At the first printing station III the printing device may be utilized in producing a business instrument such as the check S, the sheets S being advanced along the guideway SG into printing position lII beneath the platen MP. When a sheet S is thus positioned, it is located directly over an inked ribbon IRb, Fig. 2, and the printing device D is located beneath the inked ribbon and on top of an anvil I105 which is supported between the two rails HM and I102. Through actuation of the platen MP, in a manner to be hereinafter described, a printing impression may be made from the printing device onto the sheet S so as to provide the identification data A thereon. Other means are provided in the machine for printing the variable data V, the number N, the signature B and the form F, and since the particular means employed in printing the signature and the form do not constitute a part of the present invention a detailed description thereof will not be incorporated herein. It will be observed, however, in Figs. 1, 11 and 12 of the drawings, that a platen mechanism MP2 is provided adjacent to the platen mechanism MP, and

this platen mechanism MP and MP2 is utilized in printing the variable data V and the number N on the sheet S, as will be hereinafter described. The variable data V is, in the present instance, printed under the control of a multiplying mechanism, as M, which, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 416,635, filed October 27, 1941, controls the setting of type segments I106 of the variable printer VP disposed beneath the platen MP2, and the multiplying mechanism as M is controlled by the coded perforations 85 in the control card of a printing and control device D sensed at sensing station 11.

After a printing device D has come to rest station III and a printing operation has been made therefrom, it is advanced through the idle station IV and thence to the second printing station V, and at this station a proof sheet is prepared. As hereinbefore pointed out, the proof sheet is prepared through printing upon a web such as the web W which is withdrawn from a roll R supported in front of the machine on a projecting shaft WS. This web W is led across the printing station V and about stationarily mounted guide rollers I101 and I108 to thereby guide the lower run of the web under the platen mechanism PP and thence upwardly and then 9 forwardly over the platen mechanism PP in spaced relation thereto. The web W is extended forwardly from the guide roller I108 into the pager and proofer mechanism PM, which mechanism incorporates a web feeding means for withdrawing the web from the roll R. The pager and proofer mechanism PM also includes means fOr dividing the web into sheets of a predetermined size, and these sheets are discharged into a receiving tray 9H5. The web W is moved beneath the platen mechanism PP with a step-bystep motion so that the platen mechanism PP may cooperate with an anvil I1I5 to produce printing impressions on the web W. The anvil I1I5 is located between the two rails HM and I102 so as to be supported at least in part by the two rails.

The proof sheets which are thus formed by the pager and proofer mechanism PM may have different characteristics such, for example, as those pression-making member such as the platen MP and in the present instance a pair of relatively heavy and substantial side members 538 and 539,

- surrounding spacing sleeve 549 disposed about characteristics embodied in the proof sheets PSI,

PS2 and PS3 which are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, respectively, of the drawings. The proof sheet PSI constitutes the normal proof sheet, and the total of the numerical items VI printed thereon are accumulated by means included in the machine, and this constitutes a page total PTT which is printed at the bottom of the sheet. In many uses of the machine it is desirable to obtain other totals which may include the page totals from a number of sheets, such 53.8 the sheet PSI, and such a total is often termed a ledger total which is indicated on the proof sheet PS2 as the ledger total LT. It will be observed that on the proof sheet PS2, a page total PTT is printed prior to the printing of the ledger total LT.

In a run of the machine there may be a large number of ledger totals LT and at the end of the run it is customary to print the total of all of the items printed in the course of the run of the machine. dicated by the grand total GT printed on the proof sheet PS3. When a grand total GT is printed the present machine also prints the page total PTT and the ledger total LT prior to the printing of the grand total. 7

The two platens MP and PP are arranged for independent actuation through hydraulic actuating means, and to this end the anvils I105 and I1I5 embody hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder devices which are operated through the medium of individually operable pumps I120A and H203. The pumps I120A and "203 are similar in form and construction and are capable of independent actuation from a common power source as will hereinafter be described.

The number of type characters that may appear on various printing and control devices may vary widely from device to device, and in order to prevent a heavy impression being made when only a few type characters appear on a printing and control device and a light impression being made when a large number of type characters appear, the present invention has provided a platen arrangement which will make uniform impressions even under conditions entailing ex- .4 This is termed grand total and is intreme variations in the number of type characters.

One factor which contributes to the production of uneven impressions is spring, that is, twisting, in the means or member supporting the impression-making member, on which, in the present instance, is the platen MZP. This may be overcome, to a substantial extent by employing relatively rigid members to support the imthis tie rod intermediate these arms. A bar 550 extends between the arms MI and 544 near the front ends thereof and the ends of this bar are rigidly connected to these arms. The foregoing arrangement of side members, tie rods, spacing sleeves and bar affords a rigid unitary structure which comprises the movable portion of the impression making means of which the platen P is a part.

As is well understood in th art to which printing machines of the kind to which this invention pertains find their principal use, it is essential that the face of an impression member such as the platen P be in strict parallelism with the face of a printing and control device bearing type characters from which an impression is to be made, this preventing smearing and kindred objectionable conditions in impression operations. This is best attained by providing the point of pivotation of the movable part of the impression means in the plane in which the faces of the type characters from which impressions are to be made will lie and in the present machine this is accomplished by securing blocks 552 to the upper edges of the side plates I101 and I102 which form part of the guideway G and are shown in Figs. 7 and 12. V-shaped notches are provided in the blocks 552 and the apices of these V-shaped notches lie in the aforesaid plane in which the type characters will lie When a printing and control device. is disposed on the anvil I105. Downward movement of the platen MP is limited by a cross bar I bolted on the downwardly flanged edge I126 of the anvil I105, the ends of the cross bar I125 being arranged to act as abutments in the path of the arms 544 of the U-shaped frame members 538 and 539.

Blocks 556 are secured to the arms 545 of the side members 538 and 539 and these blocks are formed to provide knife edges which are seated in the V-shaped notches of 'the blocks 552 so that these knife edges rest in the respective apices afforded by these V-shaped notches. Such mounting of the movable portion of the impression means enables this movable portion to be moved with minimum friction, and this arrangement insures that minimum wear will occur in the course of long use of the impression means. Furthermore, the seating of the knife edges in the apices of the notches assures that the point of pivotation of the movable part of the impression means will lie in the plane above described.

While the rigid construction above described and the assurance that the face of the impression member will lie in the proper plane contribute to the production of the desired uniform impressions, this can be further assured by causing the impression pressure to be effected by a squeezing action which may be the result of the troduced through passage I121 intov the upper end of the cylinder 559 the piston 5601s forced downwardly in the cylinder 559 so as to bear against an adjustable abutment I128 provided in a cross bar 550 which extends between the two lower arms; of the platen supporting frame. It will be observed that the hydraulic liquid under pressure is supplied through a pipe I130, and the passage I121 is continuous from the pipe I130. to the upper end of the cylinder 5.59. When the pressure of the hydraulic liquid in the cylinder I 559. is released, the platen N? is. returned to its elevated position by oneor more springs 605 connected between the cross member 545 and the machineframe I103.

The platen mechanism Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10 wherein that the platen mechanism PP embodies a U- shaped supporting and. actuating frame I135 which is inabroad sense similar to the U-shaped frame provided for the platen mechanism MP. The frame I135, however, has but a single U,- shaped member which has an upper arm I136, a cross member I131 and a lower arm I138. As shown in. Figs. 9 and 10, the connecting or cross member I131 has oppositely projecting mounting arms. I138 and I140 at theends of which. aligned knife edge bearing members I14] and I142 are mounted- Thekniie edgebearing members HM and I142. are arranged to rest in V-shaped bearing notches such as the slot I143 shown in Fig. 9. The bearingnotches I143 are formed in the side members I144 of arelatively rigid supporting frame which is secured by bolts I145 to the rail The frame I135is urged in a clockwise direction. toward an inactive or platen-retracting position by means of, a, pair of springs I146, the lower ends of the springs I146 being connected to an anchoring. rod I141 while the upper ends thereof are connected to anchoring pins I148 which. are. mounted in. the connecting portion [1310f theframe I135 soas to project therefrom in a direction opposite from the arms I136 and I138 thereof.

The platen supporting frame I135 is actuated by hydraulic means which includes a vertically extending cylinder I150 formedinthe anvil I1I5, and a piston I15I.whichisreciprocal,in thecylinder I150. The lower end of the cylinder I150 is open so that a bearing head I152 on the lower end. ofthe piston may bear against an. adjust.- able-stopmember in. the form of. a screw I153 mounted in the lower arm I138. Whenhydraulic liquid under pressure is supplied. to the upper end of the cylinder I150through a passage I144, Fig. 10. the piston "15 is forced downwardly until an abutment surface I156. on the arm I133 engages anabutment surface I151. formed on a stationary plate I158, and such limitation: of a movement of the platen supporting frame I135 insures that, the platen PP will in every instance produce uniform printing impressions regardles of thevariations in the number of printing characters embodied in the printing devices D.

When the pressure of the hydraulic liquid is reduced at the end of a printing operation, the

PP is best shown in it will be observed springs. I 14.6.act to return the platens to their retracted, or upper positions, and such retracting movement is in the present instance limited by stop means which is mounted on the upper end of the piston I15I. Thus, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, this stop means comprises a washer I mounted beneath the head of a mounting screw {16L the mounting screw extending through a spacing sleeve I163 and being threaded into the upper end of the piston I,1:5I. The upper end of the cylinder I158 is suitably recessed as the sleeve I163 to provide clearance for the head of the screw I16I, and hence when. the piston I15I is forced upwardly the head of, the screw enters the recess I163 until the washer I160 is seated against the upper wall of the cylinder. In the present instance thi structure is also utilized in securing a cup washer I165 inposition on the top of the piston I15I, and thisend is attained through the use of a clamping. plate I166 which is positioned within the cup washer I165 and beneath the lower end of the spacing sleeve I162. Thus when the screw I16! s, tightened, the clamping plate I166 is urged downwardly into the clamping relation with respect to the cup washer I165. With the stop means thus provided the piston I15I is invariably located so that the upper edge of the cup washer I165 is located beneath the inlet opening of the cylinder I150 to thereby provide for unrestricted and unobstructed entry of hydraulic liquid. into. the cylinder. In the present instance this inlet includes the vertical bore I155 which intersectswith a horizontal bore I168, Fig. 2, and the bore I168 is so located that it provides the clearance or recess I163 for the head of the screw I16 I The bore I168 ispermanently closed at one end by a plug I169, while an upwardly extending bleed opening is provided at the other end, this bleed opening being closed by a removable screwthreaded plug I110 which may be removed for the purpose of bleeding air from the hydraulic system. Similar stop structure and a similar bleed opening are also provided in connection with the piston and cylinder means of the platen MP- The platen mechanism PP is utilized in the 'production of proof sheets of the general character shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '1 of the drawings, and the arrangement of the proof sheet in this instance is such that the variable data VI are printed in the middle column of the proof sheet while the number N is printed in the third or right-hand column of the sheet. Thus as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the variable printer VP is disposed just to the left of the anvil I1I5, and the multiplying mechanism M, while a numbering mechanism I18I is disposed just to the left of the variable printer.

Separat or individual platen sections are provided on the platen supporting frame I135 for the formation of the identifying impressions A, the variable data impressions V, and the numbering impressions N. Thus a platen section I is disposedupon the arm I136 for cooperation with a printing device located at printing position V over the anvil I1I5; a platen section I186 is mounted. on the arm I136 for cooperation with the variable printer VP; while a platen section I181 is disposed on the arm I136 for cooperation with the; numbering mechanism I18I. A single inkedribbon IRb-Z cooperates with all of the platen sections thus provided, and in the present instance this inked ribbonv extends beneath and longitudinally of the arm I136 so as to be posi- 13 tioned beneath all three platen sections. At its right-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 10, the ribbon IRb-2 passes through a clearance slot I139 formed in the mounting arms I139 and "M.

For the purpose of supporting the platen section I186 a mounting plate I188 is secured on the bottom of the arm I136 adjacent the end thereof by means such as screws I189. The mounting plate I188 has a forwardly projecting and downwardly offset portion I190 beneath which the platen section I186 is mounted. Such mounting is in the present instance obtained by means of a pair of spaced leveling screws I19I which extend downwardly through threaded openings in the plate I190 so that the reduced lower ends rotatably engage suitable sockets formed in the upper face of platen section I186. A headed screw I192 extends downwardly through the mounting plate I190 and is threaded into the platen section I186 substantially midway between the two leveling screws, and by suitable adjust ment of the screws I18! and I192 the platen section I186 may be adjusted so that its lower or operative face will be located in the proper relation to the variable printer VP when the platen supporting frame I135 has been actuated to its active position. The platen section I186 serves merely as a backing member for the hammer-actuated type elements of the variable printer VP, and hence a printing impression will not be made by the platen section I186 as a result of the lowering of the platen unless the type elements of the variable printer are actuated by their hammer mechanism.

The platen section I185 which is utilized for printing the identification data A is arranged so that it may be shifted selectively between active and inactive positions; and provision is also made for leveling the lower or operative face of the platen section I185 so as to assure proper cooperation thereof with the type characters of the printing devices. In accomplishing this result the platen section I185 is supported beneath a platen mounting plate I195 which is in turn supported beneath the arm I136. The platen supporting plate I195 is urged in an upward direction by means of a spring I196 which is located in a recess I191 in surrounding relation to a headed bolt I198, and this bolt extends downwardly through the arm I136 and the plate I188 and is threaded into the mounting plate I195. Thus the mounting plate I195 is constantly urged in an upward direction and into contact with a plurality of laterally spaced leveling screws I199 whichextend downwardly through the projecting edge portions of the plate I 188 so as to bear upon the upper face of the mounting plate I195. The mounting plat I195 may therefore be leveled through appropriate manipulation of the screws I199, and the adjusted relation is maintained by retaining springs I800 which bear against the sides of the heads of the leveling screws I199.

The platen section I185 is supported beneath the mounting plate I195 upon a plurality of headed screws I80I which are located in sockets formed in the mounting block I195, and the screws I80I project downwardly through the bottoms of the sockets and are threaded into the top of the platen section I185. Expansive coil springs I802 surround the screws I80I within their mounting sockets, and the springs I802 serve to urge the platen section I185 upwardly toward an inactive position such that a printing impression will not be made by the platen section I185 even though the platen supporting frame I135 is shifted to its active position. The platen section I185,

may be shifted downwardly against the force of the springs I802 by means of a pair of cam shafts I805 which are mounted transversely in the mounting plate I185 so that the lowermost surface of the cam shafts may be rotated into different engaging relationships with respect to certain portions of the platen section I185. The cam shafts I805 have flat portions I806 formed thereon in such a position that when the two flat portions are located in opposed relation to the platen section I185, this platen section assumes its retracted position. When th'e two cam shafts I805 are rocked in a counterclockwise direction from such a relationship, and to the relationship shown in Fig. 10, the flat sections I806 are moved out of position, and the cam shafts are effective to move the platen section I185 downwardly against the force of the springs I802. This moves the platen section I185 to its active position of Fig. 10 so that the platen section I185 is conditioned to produce a printing impression in the event that the platen supporting frame I135 is moved to its active position. The two cam sh'afts I805 are moved in unison through the medium of arms I801 which are fixed thereto and are connected 'by a link I808.

When the arm I136 is moved upwardly a roller I809 mounted on an arm I 8I 0 fixed to the lefthand cam shaft I805 engages an abutment surface I8II formed on the lower edge of a stationary plate I8I2, the plate I8I2 being mounted on a stationary cross member I8I3 of a frame I 8M which supports the guide rollers I101 and I108.

Thus in the upward movement of the arm I136 the stationary abutment I8II acts on the roller I809 to shift the cam shafts I805 to the positions shown in Fig. 10, and as a result the platen section I is invariably located in its active position when the platen supporting arms I136 is in its elevated position. Hence when the cam shafts I805 are allowed to remain in this relationship during the next downward stroke of the arm I136, the platen section I185 will be effective to produce a printing impression from the printing device located at printing position V. Provision is made, however, for rocking the cam shafts I805 in a clockwise direction during the course of a downward movement of the arm I136, thereby to cause the platen section I185 to assume its inactive position before the platen supporting arm I136 reached the end of its downward stroke. In the present instance this means comprises a swingably mounted arm I8I5 suspended from the cross member I8I3 in such a manner that the laterally projecting lower end I8I6 thereof may be shifted to a position beneath the roller I809, thereby to prevent downward movement of the roller I869 in the course of a rocking movement of a platen supporting arm I136. The arm I8I5 is urged toward an inactive position by means of a spring I8I1 which acts between the arm I8I5 and a supporting or anchoring rod I8I8, and means are provided to shift the arm I8I5 to an active position when it is desired to render the platen section I185 inactive. This mean in the present instance comprises a solenoid I820 having its armature connected by means of a rod I 82I to the arm I M5, and whenever the platen section I185 is to be rendered inactive the solenoid I828 is energized. This shifts the arm I8I5 to its active position t thereby cause the roller I8 I 9 to be held against downward movement with the result that rocking movement is imparted to the cam shafts I 805 to bring the flat sections I806 thereof into alignment; with the opposed upper face portions of the platen section I185. The platen section 1185 therefore is retracted to its inactive position and a printing impression is not made from the printing device located at printing position V. In the upward or retracting movement of the platen supporting arm I136 the abutment I8II acts upon the roller I809 to rock the shafts I805 to the position shown in Fig. and the platen section I185 is thereby conditioned to produce a printing impression in the next cycle of operation of platen supporting arm I136.

The platen section I181 which is used in printing the numbers N upon the proof sheet is also mounted for relative shifting to thereby avoid printing of a number in certain cycles of operation of the platen supporting frame I135. As herein shown an arm I825 is pivoted at I826 on the plate I190 and the arm extends to the left in Figs. 9 and 10 to a point beyond the left-hand end of the platen section I186. The platen section I181 is supported beneath the left-hand end of the arm I825 so as to project downwardly through a slot I821 formed in the supporting plate I190. The plate section I181 is supported by means of a screw I828 which extends through the arm I825 and is threaded into the platen section I181, By tightening the screw I828 the platen section I181" may be drawn into engagement with a pair of spaced leveling screws I829 which are associated withthe platen section I181 in a manner substantially similar to the association employed with the leveling screws I19I.

When the platen supporting frame I135 is rocked in an impression-making direction, the arm I825 of the platen section I181 is yieldingly restrained against downward movement by means of a spring I830 which surrounds a link. I83I pivoted at its lower end to the arm I825. The link I83I extends upwardly and slidably through an opening in a block I832 which is mounted on the end of theanchoring rod IBIS, and the spring I830 rests at its lower end on the block I832. At its upper end" the spring acts against a pair of nuts I833 threaded onto the link I83I. Thus the platen section I181 tends to remain in an upper or inactive position when the platen supporting arm I136 is lowered through an impressionforming stroke, and means is provided for operatively connecting the platen section I181 to the arm I136 when an impression is to be made by the platen I181. In the platen structure herein illustrated this end is attained through the provision of abutment means carried on the arm I 136 and adapted to be shifted into a position over the arm I825, thereby to lock the arm I825 in a predetermined relationship to the arm I136, and hence the yielding action of the spring I830 is ineffective to retain the platen section I181 in its inactive position. In the present instance the abutment means comprises a slide rod I835 extending slidably through upstanding mounting flanges I836 and I831 carried on the plate I190. The slide rod I835 has an abutment disc I838 fixed thereon in such a relationship that it may be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 9 to a position wherein it overlies the arm I825. Such shifting movement may be imparted to the slide rod I835 by means of a solenoid I840 which has its armature I84I' operatively connected to one end of the slide rod. I835. A spring I842 surrounds the armature IBM and acts on the armature to normally shift the slide rod I835 and the disc I838 to their inactive positions of Fig. 9.

It will be evident that the platen mechanism PP provides for selective performance of printing operations by the platen sections I185 and I181, and since the platen section I186 is associated with a hammer type of variable printer, the three classes of data embodied in a proof sheet may be selectively printed with the present mechanism.

As hereinbefore pointed out the hydraulic cylinders of the two platen mechanisms MP and PP are independently supplied with hydraulic liquid through independently and selectively operable pumps I120A and I120B, which, as shown in Fig. 8, are similar in form and construction and are both operated from a drive shaft I856. The drive shaft I850 is driven from a motor II through a belted connection shaft I853 to a drive pulley I854 fixed on the shaft I850. The pumps IA and H283 are adapted for individual actuation through means which include one-revolution clutches as disclosed in detail in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 416,548 filed October 21, 1941, and the clutches which control the umps I'I.28A and H203 are governed respectively by solenoids I9IOA and IQIDB. It will be evident that through selective energization of the solenoids I9I0 the two pumps I128A and H293 may be selectively operated through the platen actuating cycles.

The platen MP-Z, as hereinbefore pointed out, is utilized to cooperate with the variable printer VP to print the variable data V on the sheet S, and this platen is also utilized to print the number N on the sheet S through the medium of a numbering mechanism I965 disposed beneath the platen MP-Z beside the type segments I106 of the variable printer VP. The platen mechanism MP-2 as herein shown comprises a pair of L- shaped side frames I966 held in spaced relation by a spacing bar I961 at one end and by a cross bar I968 at the other end. At said one end the frame members I965 have downwardly extending knife edge bearing members I969 which rest in V-shaped bearing notches I910 provided on the frame of the variable printer VP. A pivotally mounting latching bar I91I is engaged with the spacing bar I961 to hold the platen MP-2 in position on' its knife edge bearings.

The cross bar I968 is utilized as a mounting for a pair of platen sections I913 and I914, these two platen sections being utilized to print the number N and the variable data V, respectively. The location of these platen faces on the cross bar I968 is governed primarily by the desired location of the impressions which are to be formed thereby on the sheet S, and in the present instance the platen section I913 is disposed to the left and somewhat rearwardly of th platen section I914, as viewed in Fig. 11, since it is desired to produce correspondingly located impressions N and V on the sheet S. Each of the platen sections I913 and I914 is mounted by means of leveling screws I915 and a securing screw I916, the securing screw being utilized to hold the platen sections upwardly against the leveling screws I915; This arrangement is similar to the leveling arrangement employed in mounting the platen sections I186 and I181, hereinbefore described.

In accordance with the present invention the platen MP-2 is actuated through its printing stroke by the same platen actuating means that is used to actuate the platen MP, and this end is attained by operatively interconnecting the two platens MP and MP-2 when a printing impression' is to be made by the platen MP-2. For

17 this reason the knife edge bearings as I969 of the platen MP2 are disposed in substantial alignment with the knife edge bearings of the platen MP, thereby to cause the platen sections I913 and I914 to move along a path which is similar to the path of the platen face on section 625 of the platen MP. It will be understood that when the platen MP is actuated through its printing stroke to print the changeable data A on the sheet S there is a printing device D lo cated on the anvil I105. The printing device advancing means is then operated to advance the printing device D from station III, that is, from its position over the anvil I105, and prior to the time when another printing device is fed into printing position DI, the platen MP may be actuated without producing either a printing impression or an offset. It is during such periods when a printing device D is not located atstation III that the numbering and variable data impressions are made upon the sheet S, and the desired interconnection between the platen MP and the platen MP2 is in the present instance effected by a latch mechanism.

The details of construction and operation of this latch mechanism are illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, wherein it will be observed that a relatively rigid mounting rod I918 is secured on the left-hand frame member of the platen MP so as to extend to the left, as viewed in Fig. 11. At its end the mounting rod I918 carries a pivotally supported latch I980 having a downwardly facing shoulder I-98I, Fig. 12, adapted to engage the upper forward edge of the cross bar I968. In the event of such engagement of the shoulder I98I with the cross bar I968, it will be evident that operation of the platen MP through its printing stroke will produce corresponding operation of the platen MP2 through its printing stroke.

The latch I980 is normally urged toward such a latching relationship with respect to the platen MP2 by actuating rod I983 pivoted at its forward end to the latch I980 at I984. The rod I983 extends rearwardly and slidably through a cross bar I985 which extends between the side frame members I966. A spring I986 surrounds the rear portion of the rod I983 so as to act between the cross bar I985 and an abutment I981 on the rear end of the rod I983.

The platen MP2 is normally held in an elevated or inactive relationship by a spring I988 connected at its upper end to an anchor I989 on the platen MP and connected at its lower end to an anchor I990 on the adjacent frame I966 of platen MP2. The spring I988 normally holds the platen MP2 in such an elevated position that the rear face I99I of the latch I980 engages the forward face of the cross bar I968 of the platen MP2. Thus the shoulder I98I is normally disposed somewhat below the upper face of the cross bar I968, and when the latch I980 is to be operatively engaged with the platen MP2, the platen MP2 is actuated slightly in a downward direction to thereby locate the cross bar I968 somewhat below the levelof the shoulder I98I, and while this condition prevails, the latch I980 is allowed to move rearwardly under the influence of the spring I986. Cam means are preferably utilized for accomplishing this controlling action, the cam means in the present instance being associated with a control cam shaft I992 which forms a part of the control means for the sheet feed. The cam shaft I992 is driven in timed relationto the control mechanism of tions I185, use and I181 may be effective in a the machine, and is utilized to control the sheet stop fingers as 852 and the sheet feeding rollers at I993. During the time when the platen MP is to be actuated independently of the platen MP2 a rise on cam I995, fixed on the cam shaft I992, engages the rear face of a depending cam follower I996 fixed on the rod I983 to thereby hold the latch I 980 against engaging or rearward movement. At the time when the follower I996 is about to ride off of the rise on the .cam I995, a rise on a cam I991 engages the forwardly projecting foot portion of a bracket I999 fixed to the cross bar I985. The cam I991 thereby acts to shiftrthe platen MP2 downwardly so that the cross bar I968 thereof is located below the level of the shoulder I98I of the latch I980. Hence when the cam I995 releases its restraining action upon the follower I996, the spring I986 shifts the latch I980 rearwardly to engage the shoulder I98! with the platen MP2. The platen MP2 is thus latched to the platen MP so that the actuation of the platen MP through its printing stroke by its normal actuating means is effective to produce a corresponding printing stroke of the platen MP2.

Where a check such as the check S is being produced so as to require but a single impression Vand a single impression A, the platen MP is operated through but two cycles of operation, in one of which the changeable data A are printed upon the check, and in the other of which the platen MP2 is simultaneously operated to print the impressions V and N upon the check. It will be understood, of course, that in the event the check embodies a stub portion Sb as in the present case, so as to require duplicate impressions A, V and N, the platen MP is operated four times, in two of which the platen MP operates independently of the platen MP2 to thereby print the changeable data A once upon the stub Sb and once upon the bod of the check, and in the the other two of the operations the platen mechanism MP operates the platen MP2 to make on impression upon the stub Sb and the other impression upon the check. Upon completion of the desired printing stroke or strokes of the platen MP2 the rise on the cam I995 engages the cam follower I996 to disengage the latch I 980 from the platen MP2. Thus the changeable data and variable data derived from a single printing and control device D are printed on a check or sheet S, together with an identifying number N. Corresponding impressions are made in each line of the proof sheet by the platen PP, as will now be explained.

As; best shown in Fig. 11, the platen sections I185, I186 and I181 of the platen PP are not mounted in alignment since the printing impressions of variable data V and a number N made in any particular operation of the platen PP pertain to a printing device which follows the printing device which is then located at station V. As to any particular printing and control device D, the variable data V derived therefrom is printed on the proof sheet before the printing and control device reaches station V, and prior to the next operationof the platen PP the web W is ad vanced through a line spacing movement, and hence the platen section I185 is so related to the platen sections I186 and I181 as toprint the change data A in the same line as the previously printed impressions V and N. After the first operation of the platen PP, all of the platen secprinting stroke, but in each [instance the changeable data A will be printed from one printing and control device in a particular line on the proof sheet, while variable and numbering data V and N pertaining to a succeeding printing and control device will be printed in the next line of the proof sheet. Therefore, the variable data V and changeable data A that are thus printed in any particular line of the proof sheet are releated, which is to say, these data are derived from the same printing and control device,

In machines such as the one in which this invention is illustrated it is customary to pass an entire series of printing devices D through the machine even though printing impressions are to be made from only selected ones of such printing devices. The desired selection of printing devices is attained through the use of identifying means on the printing devices, such :for example as the tabs TB or TBs, Fig. 4, and when a tab such as the tab 'IBs is detected upon a printing device, this printing device is passed through a machine without the formation of printing impressions therefrom. Thus with respect to such a printing device the platen mechanism MP remains in its upper or inactive position when the printing device is at station III. It will be evident of course that with respect to such printing device, the operation of the platen mechanism PP must also be altered, but since numerical data V must in some instances be printed upon the proof sheet in cycles of machine operation when the platen mechanism MP is thus inactive, a delay mechanism, which includes a Bowden cable 1996, Fig. 13, connected to the platen MP is utilized in control operation of the platen PP. Details of this operation and structure may be found in my copending application Serial No. 416,749, filed October 2'7, 1941, but it may be observed that such delay mechanism is operative to cause energization of the solenoid I820 to thereby render the platen face I185 ineffective to produce an impression from such a printing device when the printing device reaches station III.

The selective operation of the platen sections of the platen mechanism PP as above described is attained through selective operation of the solenoids [820 and I840, and such selective operation of the platen mechanism is also utilized in the printing of the page total PTT, the ledger total LT and the grand total GT. Thus it will be evident that during the printing of any one of such totals upon a proof sheet, there is a printing device D located at the printing station V, this being true because the printing device advancing means are inoperative during the totaltaking operation of the machine. Hence in a total-taking operation the solenoid I320 is energized so as to cause the platen section I185 to assume its retracted position, and this prevents printing of an impression from the printing device at station V. It will also be observed that the numbering mechanism [18! is intended to count the number of checks which have been printed by the machine, and hence it is usually desirable to avoid printing of a number opposite any one of the different types of totals. Therefore, during a total printing operation, the platen section H8! is allowed to remain in its retracted position and to accomplish this the circuit to the solenoid [B40 is allowed to remain open during ;a

total-printing operation.

upon the checks or original sheets but also upon proof sheets. The platen mechanism .of this invention is such that delayed operation of certain of the platen sections may be readily obtained, thereby to enable related data to be printed in the same line of a proof sheet through printing operations which are performed in different cycles of operation of the machine.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it i to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall Within the purview of the fol--. lowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine of the character described having a printing station, a variableprinter having settable type element located .at said printing station, a numbering machine located at said printing station, and platen mechanism adapted for printing cooperation with set type elements of said variable printer and with said numbering mechanism, said platen mechanism including a shiftable supporting frame, a first platen section carried on said supporting frame in fixed relation thereto and adapted in a printing stroke to move into printing cooperation with set-up type elements of the type segments of said variable printer, and a second platen section mounted on said supporting frame for shiftable movement relative to said supporting frame whereby said second platen section may be shifted between active and inactive positions on said supporting frame, a stationary support adjacent to said platen, spring means acting between said stationary support and said second platen section and operable normally to retain said second platen section in its inactive relation when said supporting frame moves through a printing stroke, and means carried on said supporting frame for latching said second platen section in its active relation on said supporting frame when a printing impression is to be made by said second platen section from said numbering mechanism.

2. In a printing machine having a printing station and platen mechanism adapted to cooperate with printing means located at said printing station, said platen means comprising a supporting frame .shiftable through a predetermined printing stroke, a platen member shiftably supported on said supporting frame for retracting movement from an active position on said frame to an inactive position, a stationary support adjacentto said platen, spring means urging said platen member toward said inactive position, cam means adapted to operate against the force 'of said springs to shift said platen member to its active position, an operating arm connected to said -cam means, a stationary abutment mounted on said support adjacent said platen supporting frame and adapted to be engaged by said actuating arm :as said splaten member is shifted through its return stroke to thereby actuate said cam means to shift said platen member to its active position, a normally inactive stop member mounted on said stationary support and adapted to be shifted into the path of said actuating arm to operate said actuating arm in the other direction during .a printingstroke -of said platen to thereby render said platen inactive, and means mounted on said support foractuating said 'shiftable stop member into an operative position.

3. In a printing machine of the character described having a printing station, an anvil associated with said station, a variable printer and a numbering machine also located at said printing station, platen means for cooperation with said numbering machine, said variable printer and a printing device located on said anvil, said platen means comprising a supporting frame adapted for movement through printing and return strokes, a first platen section mounted on said supporting frame in stationary relation thereon and adapted in a printing stroke to cooperate with said variable printer, a second platen member mounted on said supporting frame for cooperation with said numbering mechanism and adapted for movement relative to said supporting frame to render said second platen section ineffective in a printing stroke of said supporting frame, a third platen section mounted on said supporting frame for cooperation with a printing device located on said anvil, said third platen section being shiftable from an effective position to an ineffective position relative to said supporting frame, means rendering one of said shiftable platen sections normally ineffective, means rendering other of said shiftable platen sections normally effective, and means operable on said shiftable platen sections to control the effectiveness thereof.

4. In a printing machine of the character described having a printing station, a pair of independent platens mounted at said printing station for independent movement along similar paths through printing and return strokes, means acting on said platens to yieldably urge the same through their return strokes and to their retracted positions, means for actuating one of said platens, through its printing stroke, and latch means operable to latch the two platens together for simultaneous actuation through their printing strokes by said actuating means.

5. In a printing machine having a printing station, platen mechanism at said printing station comprising a pair of platen members independently mounted for movement along imilar paths through printing and return strokes, a platen actuating means, and means to render said platen actuating means operable selectively to actuate one or both of said platen members.

6. In a printing machine having a printing station, a pair of platens located at said printing station and separately mounted for independent movement through printing and return strokes, means for actuating one of said platens through a printing stroke, means for latching the two platens together whereby said one platen may be actuated independently of the other platen or both of said platens may be actuated in unison, sheet feeding means for feeding sheets to said printing station and including a. control cam shaft, and cam means on said cam shaft operable to control the latching and unlatching of said platens.

7. In a printing machine of the character described having a printing station, an anvil associated with said station, variable printing means located at said printing station, platen means for cooperation with said printing means a printing device located on said anvil, said platen means comprising a supporting frame adapted for movement through printing and return strokes, a first platen section mounted on said supporting frame in stationary relation thereon and adapted in a printing stroke to cooperate with a portion of said variable printing means, a second platen member mounted on said supporting frame for cooperation with other portions of said variable printing means and adapted for movement relative to said supporting frame to render said second platen section ineffective in a printing stroke of said supporting frame, a third platen section mounted on said supporting frame for cooperation with a printing device located on said anvil, said third platen section being shiftable from an effective position to an ineffective position relative to said supporting frame, means rendering one of said shiftable platen sections normally ineffective, means rendering other of said shiftable platen sections normally effective, and means operable on said shiftable platen sections to control the effectivenes thereof.

8. In a printing machine having a printing station, a pair of latens located at said printing station and separately mounted for independent movement through printing and return strokes, means for actuating one of said platens through a printing stroke, means for latching the two platens together whereby said one platen may be actuated independently of the other platen or both of said platens may be actuated in unison, and means operable to control the latching and unlatching of said platens.

9. In a printing machine having a printing station and platen mechanism adapted to cooperate with printing means located at said printing station, said platen means comprising a supporting frame shiftable through a predetermined printing stroke, a platen member shiftably supported on said supporting frame for retracting movement from an active position on said frame to an inactive position, spring means urging said platen member toward one of said positions, cam means adapted to operate against the force of said springs to shift said platen member to its other position, an operating arm connected to said cam means, a stationary abutment mounted adjacent said platen supporting frame and adapted to be engaged by said actuating arm as said platen member is shifted through its stroke in one direction to thereby actuate said cam means to shift said platen member to its other position, a normally inactive stop member adapted to be shifted into the path of said actuating arm to operate said actuating arm in the other direction during a stroke of said platen in the other direction to thereby cause said platen inactive to assume said one position, and means for actuating said shiftable stop member into an operative position.

WALTER T. GOLLWITZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McCain July 25, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Number Catalog "New Class 900 Electric Addressograph 

